Auto vacuum cleaner



Feb. 8, 1949. M N Y 2,461,174

AUTO VACUUM CLEANER Filed April ,15, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ms 1 J Z7 lfl.fi.PeZefimzz A INVENTOR.

Feb. 8, 1949. E MAN 2,461,174

AUTO VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a9 M X I f -Y 3.9 (7 I I INVEN TOR.

1 BY 1 w, J,

Patented Feb. 8, 1948 UNITED STATES 2 ,461,174 7 suroyacnum csumna Harry RiEeterman, Chicago, Ill. Asn icaiignAm 6 seria t -6 336- This invention relates to an attachment-for motor vehicles, wherein the usualinternal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, may be utiliZedi for operating-means for creating a suction through a nozzle and hose,which may be employed incleaning theupholstery of-th'e motor vehicle 1 equipped with the attachment.

An important object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this characterwhich' may be readily. and easil installed/eliminating'the necessity 'of making alterations in the usual engine construction, to mount the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide means controlled by thenozzle carrying hose of the attachment, for moving the device into and cut of operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the-j-invention resides in the combination; and arrangementof parts and in the details of construc 3 Claims. (01. 230-14) tionhereinaftendescribed and claimedfitfbeing understood that changes in the precise embodi ment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, equipped with an attachment constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1 of the drawings, illustrating the power pulley of the attachment as engaging the fan belt of the engine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating a modified form of power take-off.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated by Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engine illustrating a further modified form of power take-off.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the structure shown by Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 99 of Figure '7.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates an engine block, and the reference character 6 indicates the usual fan belt of the internal combustion engine.

The attachment forming thesubject matter-bf the present invention, includesa "ct'in lfan mounted within a housing lg' which is secured-"to the'engine block by' meansj of; a bi'acket' ITThe fan is operated by means or a flexible-shears which is eccentricallymounted iri th'" a' :ng Q; supported within the bracket"! Uftl'ia't'iss'e'' ed to the fan belt adjusting arm-1n. The-bracket! is formed with ari-opening-thr'ough wmen-tharn iZeXte'nds; the arm lsbein'g eonfie ted' i'vitn the flexible shaft as that: extends to a-poi'ntedjaent to the instrument board: H; where are with the upper endof the' flever [5 which 5 otaliy mounted 'orr'the pipe lfw'hitihi ext n through an opening the in truments Connected with the lower end hf} the jleverfl is a push rod il tha't extends throug the Han formed on the upper endf'offfthel-p push rodlyihg in ma er-h" of travelof the 11 'I'S' which'is carried'fjby the union 2Utha nects with the make {nqss'ziftnat earn the nozzle notj'showri; onthe free endthe'reo it will be seen that 'when the union-'20 "sitioned" inth'e'upperend of the pipe l6; the ante i9 contacting the push rod I'I will operate'the flexible shaft I3 to move the bearing 9 and the shaft 8 operating therein. The shaft 8 carries the power pulley 22 on one end thereof, which power pulley is adapted to move into engagement with the fan belt, when the flexible shaft is operated, as described.

The coil spring 23 operates to return the shaft 8 and pulley 22 to their normal positions, when the union 20 is disconnected from the pipe l6. As shown, the union 2!] is formed with curved slots 24, adapted to engage the lugs 25 extending inwardly from the wall of the pipe 16, thereby to draw the union into close engagement with the pipe It, providing an air-tight connection therebetween.

The exhaust pipe of the housing I, is indicated by the reference character 26, through which the dust-ladened air passes and is discharged on the ground surface.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the flexible shaft 21 is provided with a pulley 28 that frictionally engages the pulley 29 secured to the generator shaft 36. It may be found desirable to resort to this type of power take-off when the attachment.

is used with certain types of motor vehicles.

A still further form of power take-off is shown by sheet 3 of the drawings, in which an auxiliary pulley 3| is mounted on the generator shaft 3 32, the pulley 3| engaging the pulley 33 mounted on the shaft 34, the pulley 33 also engaging the pulley 35 mounted on the water pump shaft 36.

The shaft 34 is eccentrically mounted in the bearing 31 so that when the arm 38 is moved by means of the flexible shaft 39 in a manner as previously described, the pulley 33 will be moved into and out of operation.

Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that when it is desired touse the cleaning attachment, it is only necessary to insert the union 20 in the open end of the pipe It. The flange l9, engaging the push rod I! will operate to throw the fan into operation, creating a suction through the intake hose 2| to remove foreign matter on the surface on which the nozzle carried at the end of the intake hose 2| is positioned. 1

Having thus described the invention, claimed is:

1. The combination with a motor vehicle internal combustion engine and the fan belt thereof, of a-vacuum cleaning device adapted to be attached to the engine, a suction fan including a housing supported by the engine, a flexible power shaft extending into the housing and on which the suction fan is mounted, a bearing in which the flexible power shaft is eccentrlcally mounted, a pulley mounted on one end of th shaft, an air intake hose connected with the housing, and having apipe fitting at one end, a second air intake hose removably connected with the pipe fitting, and means operated by the second-mentioned intake hose when positioning the second-mentioned intake hose, for moving the pulley into engagement with the fan belt and rotating the power shaft and suction fan connected therewith.

2. The combination with armotor vehicle internal combustion engine and the belt of the fan driving mechanism thereof, of a vacuum cleaning device, comprising a suction fan and housing adapted to be attached to the engine, an air intake hose connected with the housing, a flexible power shaft extending into the housing and on which the suction fan is secured, a pulley on one what is end of the shaft, a bearing in which the shaft is eccentrically mounted, a flexible operating shaft, an arm connected with said bearing and to which one end of the operating shaft is connected, a lever connected with the opposite end of the flexible operating shaft, a push rod connected with the lever, a removable air intake hose including a pipe section having a flange, said flange engaging the push rod when the removable intake hose is connected with the first-mentioned air intake hose, rotating the bearing whereby the power shaft is adjusted, moving the pulley into engagement with the belt of the fan driving mechanism operating the suction fan.

3. The combination with a motor vehicle internal combustion engine and the cooling fan and belt of the driving mechanism thereof, of a vacuum cleaning device embodying a fan housing secured to the engine, an adjustable power shaft, a bearing in which the power shaft is eccentrically mounted, a pulley mounted on one end thereof, a suction fan mounted on the opposite end of the power shaft and operated within the housing, a sectional intake hose communicating with th housing, a coupling for coupling the adjacent ends of the intake hose together, and means operated by the coupling means of the intake hose for moving the adjustable power shaft and pulley into operative contact with the belt of the cooling fan driving mechanism.

HARRY A. R. PETERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,682 Fefelle Apr. 24, 1917 1,729,364 Schivier et al. Sept. 24, 1929 2,148,656 Smellie Feb. 28, 1939 2,287,602 Campbell Apr. 24, 1917 

